Employers sometimes receive hundreds of CVs at a time. A good CV needs to be able to stand out from the crowd (for all the right reasons). Here are 7 tips for writing the ultimate resume.
Keep it short and snappy
Most employers don’t have the time to read huge multi-page essays on why you’re right for the job. Employers also often use parser software to store and analyse your information to speed things up (click here to find out more about this software, and how you can get your CV noticed in this tool). However, ultimately, keep your CV as snappy as possible.
Your personal statement should only be a paragraph in length, highlighting the key reasons why you should be hired. Try to personalise this personal statement to the job you’re applying to. Also, try to divide up information into sections so that it’s easier to read than a wall of text.
Keep it relevant
Make sure that your CV is relevant to the position you’re applying for. You don’t need to list all your school grades on your CV. Similarly, there may be work experience from when you were younger that isn’t relevant. If you haven’t got much experience to put on your CV, you may still be able to highlight relevant transferable skills that you learnt in that job.
Give evidence of your qualities
Employers don’t like buzzwords like ‘hardworking’, ‘a good team player’ and ‘organised’ unless they’re backed up with evidence. When describing your qualities, use examples of times you showed these qualities. This will make your application more believable than simply listing off qualities the employer wants to hear.
Make use of hyperlinks
Many CVs are now sent via email. Hyperlinks can be useful for referencing online sources such as blogs, LinkedIn profiles, testimonials, news articles or websites of previous companies that you worked for. Making your CV more interactive in this way might also help to make it more memorable.
Include the right personal details
Don’t forget to include important personal details on your resume. These include contact details such as your email address and phone number, and potentially your home address. You’ll want to include your name, although there’s no need to include your date of birth and a photograph unless specified.
Get professional help
Sometimes it can be beneficial to hire CV experts to write your resume. They may be able to advise you on things to put in your CV if you’re unsure. It may even be a simple case of using them to proofread your CV for spelling and grammar errors. For more information on this type of service, visit https://www.arcresumes.com/local/pennsylvania/.
Ask employers for advice
If your application gets rejected, don’t be afraid to send a follow-up email to find out what you could improve. It could be a case of not having the right experience, but in other cases, it may be something you’ve put in your CV that doesn’t help your cause.
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